Needle selector mechanism for multiple needle looms



July 18, 1933. P. J. ST. JEAN ET AL NEEDLE SELECTOR MECHANISM FORMULTIPLE NEEDLE LOOMS Filed Sept 27, 1932 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 i L. 4 4 245'. BY J ATTCRNEY' July 18, 1933. P. J. ST. JEAN ET AL 1,919,151

NEEDLE SELECTOR MECHANISM FOR MULTIPLE NEEDLE LOOMS Filed Sept. 27, 1932eats-Sheet 2 23 9 55 INVENTOR 4 ATTORN EY "UNITED/STATES Patented July18, 1933 P TENT erm PiAi'UiL J. s'r. JEAN, or'zmo MrsonvILLn,oonnno'rionr, eRnnnORIi'Cr" CHICCPEE, MASSACHUSETTS, AsSICNoRs monr'ontow senroan CARPET 00.; mo... p or THOMPSQN ILLE, comvno'rrou'r, ACORPORATION or MASSACHUSETTS NEE LE SELECTOR.MECHAN1"SM non MULTIPLENEEDLE. ooms Application filed September 27. 1932. Serial No. 635,014.

fabrics such for instance as Axminster car-v pets and r ugs. In manycases these tuft pile fabric looms employ a single weft insertingneedle, but has been proposed.heretofore to employa pair of needles forweavlngitu'ft pile fabricshaving a two lor three plane ground structure.I i 1 The needle selector mechanism of the present invention is of anovelfcharacter and automatically defines which one or more of a seriesof needles may be introduced into the shed. This selective operation ofthe different needles is not only Well adapted for use in weaving tuftpile fabrics, but also maybe employed in weavin'gl multiple, plain anddouble'fabrics with or Without pile. It is also well'adapted for use inweaving plain or other type of fabrics where it desired to vary thecolor or character of the successively inserted weft threads.

In accordance with the presentzinvention an actuator is provided and isgivenfmove ments towards and from the shed. by-appropriate means andunder the control of the needle selector mechanism any one or.,more ofthe needles may be introduced into the shed. v j

The invention 'andnovel features thereof will best be made clear fromthe following description and accompanying drawings of one good form orembodiment thereof.

V In the drawings? Fig. 1 isa side elevation showing portions needleselector mechanism of the present in vention whereby any one or more ofthe series may be connected to into the shed; 7 A Y 1 Fig.6 is an .end.view looking from the right of Fig. 5; 1 i

F ig.7 isla section on the line 7 of Fig. 5 1

the; actuator and moved a 8 i'sfa section on the 'line8%8 of Fig. 5;;

and "l 1 Fig. 9 is a detail showing one form of brake 'niecha'nis m for{holding the "rotary Wedge carrying member in its establishedposition.

The loom frame may be of appropriate character for supp ort. of theoperating parts and extending at one side of the loonr frame is theauxiliary frame 1. Extending from the auxiliary frame and supportedlbyappropriate' mea1 1s is the guide or track'way 2 for dlrectmg themovement of the needle actuator or slide 3 and the [desired reciprocating movements-are imparted to the ctuator or slide 3 .by'fan'arm 4 pivotally mounted at 5 on"the auxiliary frame l'and connectedtothe actuatoror slide 3 by the link Thea'rin 4; is given its oscillatingor actu-. i 'ating inovementsthrough a link 7 which may V beappropriately connected to a crank or earn actuated. from a going partofithe loom.

. In the construction illustrated byjFig. '1 there aretwo needles', yanupper needle 8 and a lower needle 9 and as shown, the 'upper needle8is'securedto the actuator 3 by the clamp member 10', while the lowerneedlef'9 is ;connected by a. similar'clamp member 11 to a needlecarriage 12/ Each of thezneedles 8'and9 controls theinsertio nof a'weftthread a and 6 intothe shed, as usuahftheweft -As an appropriatefmeansfor slidably se- 'curing the actuator or slide 3 and the needle lcarrier 12 on the guide rai'1'2blo cks 13'held in place by'theadjustingscrews 14 serve to engage the lower edg'e'portionof the guide Qanddire'ctthe movementjof the actuator and needle carriage. "This'detail,of course, maybe readily varied within the scope of the present"invention. From the construction thus far described it willbe notedthaton each reciprocation of the v actuator or, slide 3 the: upperneedle 8 will be in trodl'iced' into the shed 'an'dthe lower needle 9will-be introduced into the shed when and only when it is connected tothe actuator or slide 3, and in order that the lower needle 9 may beappropriately guided in its recipro- 5 eating movements'it passesthrough an opening in the actuator or slide 3, thus imparting to thelower needle 9 a guide condition which may be desirable in certaininstances.

In order that the lower needle 9 1nay be 10 connected to the actuator orslide 3 when the lower needle is to be passed into the shed a latch isprovided for connecting the needle carriage 12 to the actuator under thedictates of the main features of the present invention, as willpresently be described.

The connecting latch comprises an arm 16 pivotally' mounted at 17 on theactuator or slide and is normally under the influence of a spring 18tending tomove the free end of the latch 16 inwardly or towards theslide or needle carriage 12. The latch 16 is provided with a shoulderedportion 19, Fig. 2, which is adapted to engage an opening 20in theneedle carriage 12 for the lower needle, the construction being suchthat should the latch 16 be operatively connected to the needle carriage12 whenthe actuator or slide 3 is in its outer or retracting position,the latch 16' will cause the needle carriage 12 to move with theactuator on its next reciprocation towards the shed and carry the lowerneedle 9 into the shed along with the upper needle 8 so that two shotsof weft will be laid in the respective sheds. Fromvthe construction thusfar described it will be evident thatthe upper needle 8 will beintroduced into its appropriate shed on each reciprocation of theactuator or slide 3 and that the lower needle 9 will be similarlyintroduced into its shed whenever the needle carriagev 12 is operativelyconnected to the actuator or slide 3 by the latch 16.

Aside from the particular mechanism hereinbefore described forthe-introduction '55 bracket 21 and afford a support for the rotarymember 22, as more clearly indicated in- Fig. 3. I r

The. rotary member or wed e carrying wheel 22 has a number of seats about its periphery for the detachable connection of the wedge blocks 24,each of which may be secured in its seat by the headed screw 25.

In order that the rotary member or wedge carrying wheel 22 may be heldrotatively upon its stud 23, one end portion of the stud of one or twoneedles into the sheds, the pri- 23 has secured thereto the retainingmember 26 by means of a screwor other appropriate means 27, theconstruction being such that the rotary member 22 is free for rotativemovement upon the stud, and the wedge blocks 2% may be secured to therotating memher 22 in any predetermined order dependent byrstep movementthrough a pawl 29 pivotally mounted at 30 upon an arm 31 mounted forrotativemovement upon the stud 23 or other convenient support.

Connected to the arm 31 for operating the pawl is a flexible member 32which has one end at 33 secured to the arm 4 and passes about a guidepulley 34 then upwardly to the arm 31 where. it is connected at35, theconstruction being such that on movement of the arm 4 to carrytheactuator towards the shed the flexible member 32 will cause'ythe pawl toact upon the ratchet and-turn it a predetermined amount which, in thepresent instance, is about one-sixth of a revolution. The amount ofturning movement, however, that isimparted tothe ratchet 28 maybeconveniently regulatedbya guard 36, Fig. 1. Connected tothe upper end ofthe arm 31 which operatesthe pawl is a spring 37, one end of which isconnected to a bracket 38 for returning the pawl'in its idle stroke tothe left, Fig. 1, as the arm 4 which actuates the slide-3 returns to itsouter position and a stop 39 serves tov limit the movement of the arm31.

The order in which the needle 9may be introduced into the shed may bedetermined by a predeterminedarrangement of the wedge blocks 24 on therotary member 22 under the following conditions As hereinbefore statedthe latch 16 is connected to the actuator or slide 3 and as the actuatoror slide3 moves towards the shed and carries with it the latch 16, therotary member or wedge carrying wheel 22 will be rotated the prescribedamount thereby either presentlng a wedge block or falling to present awedge block owmg to its absence on the wheel as the latch 16- and theactuator or slide 3 returns outwardly to the position indicated in Fig.'1. Should a wedge block 24. on the rotary member 22 be presented in thepath of the latch 16 as the latter moves outwardly from the shed itscurved end portion will meet the'wedge and cause the latter todisconnect the needle carriage 12 from the actuator or slide 3, butshould a wedge be absent from the rotary member 22 then the From theconstruction describedfi'it will be noted that the rotary member 22 iscaused to partake of itsfrotary movement under the action, of the pawl29 when the actuator or slide 3 moves towards the shed and'as theactuatorreturn's to its outward position the pawl will partake of itsidle movement and the rotary member will remain at rest to eitherpresent or fail to present a wedge block 24 to the latch 16 as thelatter moves outwardly with the actuator In order that the rotary member22 maybe held from accidental movement during the periodt'hat it ,isatrest, the bracket 21 has secured thereto the spring arm '40, F igs.land 9, provided with a rounded end 41 which may engage a recess 42 inthe rotary member 22 and thus actas a brake to hold: the rotary membertablished position.

Should a wedge block 24 be positioned by the rotary member in the pathof the latch 16 as it moves outwardly to the position indicated in Figs.1 and 2, the latch iself will in its esride up the inclined surface ofthe wedge and withdraw the shoulder 19 from the recess 20 in the needlecarriage 12. but should the .wedges be predete-rminedlydisposed on therotary member 22 so that no wedge is presented tothe latch 16 as itmoves outwardly then the latch will engage the recess2O on the needlecarriage 12and perforce "cause inward movement into theshed of theneedle associated therewith. i

As a precautionary measure and to insure that the pawl 29 may unerringlyengage the ratchet teeth of the ratchet wheel 28 and rotate' the latterand the rotary member 22, as

.the actuator or slide 3 moves inwardly. a

light spring 43 may act upon the pawl 29,as indicated in Fig. 1. i

From the construction thus far described it will be apparent that theneedle selector mechanism is automatic in itscharacter and whether ornot it shall connecta needle to the actuator or slide 3 will depend uponwhether or not a wedge block 24 i's'.positioned by the'rotary member toengage the end of the latch 16 as the latter moves outwardly. In otherwords. if the rotary member which acts as a pattern presents a wedgeblock in position to be engaged by the latch 16 the latch willautomatically release the needle carriage from the actuator andconversely,

if there is no wedge thus presented ,to the" latch 16. the latter willreniain in engagement with or pass into engagement-withthe needlecarriage, with the result thatjon the next inward movement of theactuator the needle connected "the carriage willbe moved inwardly.

As a'convenient means'for connecting the link 6-to the 'actuator'orslide 3 a pin 44 is extended from the actuator or slide 3 to such anextent that it will not cause interference with the movement of thelatch 16.v

In the construction hereinbeforejdescribed 1 one of theneedles ispermanently attached to the actuator or slide 3 and enters the shed oneach inward movement of the slide. or

actuator while the other needle'9 will move into the shed only when'th'eneedle selector v mechanism prescribes that;- movement.

In the construction illustratedby' Figs. 5, 5

6, 7 and 8.which show a modification of the invention and itsamplification of the control of any one of a p'lura'lit-yof needles-eachneedle may be connected to the actuator or slide under the dictates ofthe rotarymemher or. wedge carryin modified construction the stud 23.has mounted uponit arotary member or wedge carryingwhee'l for each ofthe plurality ofneedles employed, so that any one or more of a series"wheel andin this of needles may be automatically connected p toor'disc'onnected from the actuator at the will of thepoperator whowillso position the wedge blocks on the rotary membersas to pre- I sent orfail'toypresent a wedge'block to the;

latchesconnected to the respectiveneedles as the latter are withdrawnfrom the shed. f

In the modification and inasmuch as there are twoseparately actuatedneedles, the needle guide or rail-is formedin duplicate, as indicated inFig.7, the two 45 and 46 be- 6 and 7, each of the needle carriages isdistinct and separate from the others and: the 1 upper needle 50' iscarried by the gooseneck arm 51 ofthe needle carriage-49 while the lowerneedle 52 is connected to the lower carriage 48, the resultbeing thatwhen either one 0 these L-carriages is connected 'to-the actuator itsassociated needle will be moved into and out ofthe shed and either oneor both may be-given this movement according to the dictates of' theneedle selector l mechanism. i v

In the modification, as indi'cated is Fig. 5, there are two rotarymembers 53 and 54, each being provided with one or more wedge blocks 55and 56. Mounted upon the actuator or slide 3, as indicated in Fig. 5 isa latch 57 for connecting For disconnecting one of the needle carriagesto the actuator or slide in accordance with the dictates of the rotarymemberor wedge carrying wheel 53, and

similarly the other needle carriage is provided with ala-tch'58undercontrol of the wedge carrying-wheel or rotary member 54. 'Both 'ofthe latches 57-or' 58 are pivotally as shown by Figs. 5,6, 7 and 8,bysubstantially the same ratchet and pawl mechanism, as indicated inFig. 1 and hereinbefore described, and thelatches themselves may be ofthe same general construction to connect or disconnect any one or -moreofthe needles to the actuator, as prescribed by the rotary member andits wedge'blocks.

From the construction described it, will be apparent that the presentinvention provides an automatic needle selector mechanism whereby one ormore of a series of needles may be connected to or disconnected from theactuator. i I

WVhat is claimed is 1. In a loom, the combination of weft insertingneedles, for introducing weft threads into the shed, anactuator for theneedles, a latch for, operatively connecting a needle to the actuator,and a rotatable member having latch engaging blocks mounted thereon fordetermining when the latch shall connect or fail to connect a needle tothe actuator.

2. In a loom, the combination of weft inserting needles for introducingweft threads into the shed, an actuating slide for the needles, a latchfor operatively connecting a needle to the slide, a rotatable member,and

' a wedge block secured to the rotatable memher and positioned byrotation of saidmemher for determining when the latch shall conmeet orfail to connect a needleto the actuating slide. a i i i 8. In aloo1n,the combination of weft in? serting needles for introducing Weftthreads into the shed, an actuating slide for "operating the needles, alatch for operatively connecting a needle to the slide, arotat-ablemember, means for intermittently rotating said member, a block mountedon the rotatable member and positioned byrotation of said member toengage or fail to engage the latch V the needle may be disconnected fromthe actuating slide.

In a loom, the combination of wettinserting needles for introducing weftthreads into the shed, an actuating, slide for operatposition of theblock.

ing the needles, a latch for operatively connecting a needle to theslide, and a needle selector comprising a rotary member, a block securedto the rotary member, means for turning the rotary member to'positionthe block in predetermined relation with the latch that the latter mayconnect .or fail to connect a needle to the actuating slide. I 6. Inaloom, the combination of weft inserting needles for introducing weftthreads into the shed, an actuating slide for operating the needles, alatch for operatively connecting a needle to the slide, aneedle selectorcomprising a rotary member, a blocksecured to the rotary member, andmeans for turning the rotary member to position the block inpredetermined relation with the latch during the inward movement of theactuating slide and permitting the rotary member to remain at restduring the outward movement of the slide thatthe latch may or may notconnect a needle to the slide in accordance with the 7 In a loom, thecombination ofweft inserting needles for introducing weft threads intotheshed, an actuator f-or operating the needles, a latch for connectingneedle to the actuator, a rotary member, a wedge block mounted on therotary member, ratchet and pawl mechanism for rotating said memberstep-by-step and for placingthe wedge block in predetermined positionwith respectto the latch and thereby determine whether a needle may ormay not be operatively connected to the actuator for inserting its weftthread into the shed.

8. In a multiple needle loom, the combination ofan actuator foroperating any one or more of the needles, latches for operativelyconnecting any one of the needles to the actuator, a needle selectormechanism for determining which one or more of the set of needles shallbe connected to the actuator, and com prising a movable member, blocksdetachably secured to the movable member for controlling the latches anddetermining by the position of the blocks which one or more of theneedles of the set shall be operatively connected to the actuator. I 9.In a multiple needle loom, the combination of an actuatorfor moving anyone or more of the needles into the shed, a latch vfor each needle forconnecting the needle to the actuator, a needle selector mechanism fordetermining which. of the needles shall be con,- nected to the actuator.and comprising a wedge carrying wheel, means for turning the wheel to apredetermined position during the inward movement of the actuator toposition I awedge relativelv to a latch that the latter may bedisengaged from the associated needle on the outward movement of theactuator when the wedge is in one positionand permit the latch to remam1n connectmg relation with the needle when the wedge is in anotherposition. v

10. In a multiple loom, the combination of an actuator for moving anyone or more of the needles into the shed, a latch for each needle forconnecting the needle to the actuator, a needle selector mechanism fordetermining which of the needles shall be connected to the actuator andcomprising a wedge carrying wheel, means for turnin the wheel to apredetermined position during the inward movement of the actuator toposition a, wedge relatively to a latch that the latter may a bedisengaged from the associated needle on the outward movementof'theactuator. when the wedge 15 in onepos tion and permlt the latch toremain in connecting relation with the needle'when the wedgeis inanother position, and a brake to prevent turning movement of thewedgewheel when the wedge has.

been moved to its predetermined position. v

11. In a multiple needle loom, the combination of an actuator for movingany one or i more of the needles into the shed, a latch for each needlepivotally mounted on the actua tor to connect a needle to the actuator,a

needle selector mechanism for determining which of the needles shall beconnected to the actuator and comprising a wedge carrying .wheel, means'forturningit to a predetermined position during the inward movement foreach needle for connecting it to the actu ator, and a needle selectormechanism com-, prising a movable wedge for engagementgby' the latch todisconnect a needle from the actuator when the wedge is moved into apredev termined position. 1 e I 13. In amultiple needle loom, thecombination of an actuator for moving any one or forconnecting any oneor more of the needles to the actuator, and a needle selector mechanismfor determining which of-theneedles shall be connected to the actuatoron any pick,

comprising a rotary member, edge blocks for connection with the rotarymemberfin predetermined'order, means for turning" the rotary member topresenta blank space to one of the latcheswhen the associated needle isto be-connected to the actuator and present a wedge block for engagementby one of the more of the needles into the shed, latches I latches Whenthe associated needle istobe I disconnected from the actuator.

14, In a multiple needle loom, thecombi- I nation of an'actuator formovingany-one or more of the needles lnto the shed, lat,ches

for connecting any one or more of the needles to the'actuator, and aneedle selector mechanism for determining which of the needles shall beconnectedto the actuator on any pick, comprising a rotary member, wedgeblocks for connection with the rotary member in predetermined order,ratchet and pawl,

means for turning the rotary member stepby-step to present a blank spaceto one of Y the latches when theassociated needle is to be connected tothe actuator and present a a Wedge block for engagement by one ofthelatches when the associated needle is to be disconnected from theactuator. Y PAUL J. ST. JEAN;

FRAN V. GRENNQR,

